Black Swan

Never Heal

Malik closed the door behind him, bags of savory Chinese takeout in his arms. He didn't know why he had agreed to give Julian Selene's work details, but after Selene stormed out of that café, guilt had a way of pulling at his heartstrings. But now, walking up to the porch, he sighed. Julian had wanted to see him anyway because he had some troubling news to give him. The weight of Julian's bad news weighed heavy on Malik. His steps slowed as he entered the living room.

The silence was startling. No TV humming. No sound of Selene. Just the soft sound of rain brushing against the windows. He turned the corner and found Selene curled up on the couch, fast asleep. Her hair had slipped across her face, lashes pressed against her cheek. Without waking her, he crouched, slipping his arms carefully beneath her. She stirred faintly, mumbling something incoherent, but didn't wake.

"Shhh," he whispered.

He carried her down the hall like he had when she was little after movie nights, back when their mom was still alive and the world seemed a lot simpler. Gently, he laid her on the bed, pulling the blanket up over her shoulder.

For a moment, Malik just stood there, hand lingering on the edge of the quilt. In her sleep, she looked so much like their mother it hurt. He swallowed hard and left the room quietly.

After putting her takeout in the fridge, he had barely stepped into the living room when a sudden knock jolted through the house. It was sharp, urgent. Malik's head snapped toward the door, his shoulders tensing.

"Who the hell..."

He walked over and pulled it open.

Heather stood there.

Not the Heather most people were used to seeing—the one polished to perfection, hair sleek and bone straight, makeup flawless, clothes that showed she came from old money. Tonight she was stripped down: baggy sweats, hair tied in a messy bun, and not a trace of mascara or lipstick. Just Heather, raw and barefaced.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a tremor.

Malik froze. Part of him wanted to tell her no, not tonight, not ever, and slam the door in her face. But the look in her eyes...It was desperation. Against his better judgment, he stepped aside. He didn't know what he'd say to her, or how he'd react.

She slipped past him, her arms wrapped tight around her middle as if she were holding herself together.

They stood in the living room, silence stretching between them like glass. Heather broke it first.

"Malik... I can't keep doing this."

He crossed his arms. "Doing what?"

"Waiting. Waiting for you to come home." Her voice cracked. "I've been patient. I've given you space. But I can't live like this anymore, Malik. I need you. I need us."

He closed his eyes briefly, shaking his head. "Heather... you don't get to decide when I'm ready. You don't get to set a timer for me to forgive you. That's my call, not yours."

Her face twisted, hurt and frustration warring together.

"So what is this then?" she demanded, her voice rising. "You're punishing me? Making me jump through hoops just so you can feel in control?"

His jaw tightened. "Don't turn this on me."

"You think I don't see it?!" Her words grew sharper, filling the quiet house. "You run off every night for Selene, for her problems, her ghosts, her drama—"

"Stop." His voice was low, warning.

"—and I'm the one sitting alone, wondering if you'll ever come back to me!"

The sting of her words hung in the air. Malik clenched his fists, the weight of anger and guilt pressing heavy on his chest. "You know what? That's f*****g funny...hilarious even! That you will stand there, and accuse me of neglecting you in this relationship. When the moment s**t stops going your way, you run and try to f**k my best friend!"

Heather gasped, eyes wide with shock. She knew that f*****g piece of s**t Julian would snitch on her.

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She was calculated that night. Wearing her tightest dress and highest 'f**k me' heels, sauntering into the bar that she knew he frequented. She saw Julian, sadly drinking a beer and strolling on his phone at a lone booth in the corner. Smirking, she knew she had every man's attention in the bar, so this would be easy.

Sliding into the booth, she smiled, "Julian Cruz! Oh my God, is that you?"

He looked up, confused at first, then smiled. The smile didn't reach his eyes, but it didn't matter. "Hey, uh, Heather! Is Malik here with you?" He looked around Heather to maybe see if his best friend was somewhere nearby.

"Nope!" she said, popping the 'P', "Just me...we're kinda...over now." She looked down to see a picture of Selene's face, smiling at the person behind the camera. It felt like Heather couldn't escape Selene.

Julian's face dropped, "What? You guys were glued to the hip at one point, what's going on?" This was her moment to put on an Oscar-winning performance. She was used to doing it to get what she wanted.

She faked a sad expression, making sure to water her eyes, "Julian...I-I think it's another woman."

"That doesn't sound like Malik..." Julian said, scratching his head. Malik had done a lot of growing up over the years, and Julian knew he even wanted to marry Heather. Yet, Heather nodded. Getting up, and sliding into the seat beside him. The waterworks coming down now as she flung herself at him. "Jesus, Heather..."

"I just feel so...alone, Julian. Am I really not good enough?" she faked cried, looking into his eyes.

"Heather...listen, you're a beautiful woman, and if Malik's cheating on you, then—" Heather cut him off, kissing his neck and placing small kisses up to his jaw. "Th-then you should just break up, and—"

"And let you f**k me?" she whispered in his ear.

Julian looked at her in confusion and disgust. She was his best friend's girlfriend, and he didn't want any part in Heather's f****d up plan. "What?"

"You heard me," Heather said with a smirk, "You know you want to...I'm a thousand times better than Selene ever was."

Shaking his head, Julian pushed her out of the booth, and stood up. "What the f**k is wrong with you?" He was about to walk away before she grabbed his wrist.

"Julian...you can't tell Malik about this...it'll crush him," she told him. Of course, it would break Malik, but Julian would rather tell him the truth than to hold this in and further hurt Malik.

"Whatever..." He said before walking away, and out of the bar.

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From upstairs, Selene stirred. Her brother's voice, then Heather's—raised, sharp, angry. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, head pounding from the half-nap. Slowly, she padded down the stairs, irritation already bubbling.

"What the hell is going on?" she snapped, coming into view.

Both Malik and Heather turned. Heather's cheeks were flushed, her hands shaking. Malik looked exhausted, his posture slumped but defensive.

Selene's eyes flicked between them, confusion sharp in her tone. "Why are you in my house yelling in the middle of the night?"

Heather's lips pressed tight, but her eyes burned with something close to jealousy. Malik rubbed his temples.

The fragile balance in the room teetered.